Chapter 200: Student Conduct

200.010 Standard of Conduct

A student at the University assumes an obligation to behave in a manner compatible with the University's function as an educational institution and voluntarily enters into a community of high achieving scholars. Consequently, students must adhere to community standards in accordance with the University’s mission and expectations.

These expectations have been established in order to protect a specialized environment conducive to learning which fosters integrity, academic success, personal and professional growth, and responsible citizenship.

Jurisdiction of the University of Missouri generally shall be limited to conduct which occurs on the University of Missouri premises or at University-sponsored or University-supervised functions. However, the University may take appropriate action, including, but not limited to the imposition of sanctions under Sections 200.020 and 200.025 of the Collected Rules and Regulations against students for conduct occurring in other settings, including off campus, in order to protect the physical safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors or if there are effects of the conduct that interfere with or limit students' ability to participate in or benefit from the University's educational programs and activities.

Conduct for which students are subject to sanctions falls into the following categories:

Academic dishonesty, such as cheating, plagiarism, or sabotage. The Board of Curators recognizes that academic honesty is essential for the intellectual life of the University. Faculty members have a special obligation to expect high standards of academic honesty in all student work. Students have a special obligation to adhere to such standards. In all cases of academic dishonesty, the instructor shall make an academic judgment about the student's grade on that work and in that course. The instructor shall report the alleged academic dishonesty to the Primary Administrative Officer.

The term cheating includes but is not limited to: (i) use of any unauthorized assistance in taking quizzes, tests, or examinations; (ii) dependence upon the aid of sources beyond those authorized by the instructor in writing papers, preparing reports, solving problems, or carrying out other assignments; (iii) acquisition or possession without permission of tests or other academic material belonging to a member of the University faculty or staff; or (iv) knowingly providing any unauthorized assistance to another student on quizzes, tests, or examinations.

The term plagiarism includes, but is not limited to: (i) use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without fully and properly crediting the author with footnotes, citations or bibliographical reference; (ii) unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials; or (iii) unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced through collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators.

The term sabotage includes, but is not limited to, the unauthorized interference with, modification of, or destruction of the work or intellectual property of another member of the University community.

Forgery, alteration, or misuse of University documents, records or identification, or knowingly furnishing false information to the University.

Obstruction or disruption of teaching, research, administration, conduct proceedings, or other University activities, including its public service functions on or off campus.

Physical abuse or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person.

Stalking another by following or engaging in a course of conduct with no legitimate purpose that puts another person reasonably in fear for his or her safety or would cause a reasonable person under the circumstances to be frightened, intimidated or emotionally distressed.

Violation of the University’s Equal Employment/Education Opportunity Policy located at Section 320.010 of the Collected Rules and Regulations. These violations include, but are not limited to:

Harassment. Harassment in violation of the University’s anti-discrimination policies, is unwelcome verbal or physical conduct, on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class as defined in the University’s anti-discrimination policies, that creates a hostile environment by being sufficiently severe or pervasive and objectively offensive that it interferes with, limits or denies the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from educational programs or activities or employment access, benefits or opportunities.

Bullying. Bullying is defined as repeated and/or severe aggressive behavior likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control or diminish another person, physically or mentally on the basis of actual or perceived membership in a protected class.

Retaliation. Retaliation is any adverse action taken against a person because of that person’s participation in protected activity. The University strictly prohibits retaliation against any person for making any good faith report or for filing, testifying, assisting, or participating in any investigation or proceeding involving allegations of discrimination in violation of the University’s Equal Employment/Education Opportunity Policy.

False Reporting. False reporting is making an intentional false report or accusation as opposed to a report or accusation, which, even if erroneous, is made in good faith.

Violation of the University’s Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment and Sexual Misconduct in Education/Employment Policy in Section 600.020 of the Collected Rules and Regulations. These violations include:

Sex Discrimination. Sex discrimination occurs when a person has been treated inequitably on the basis of sex, gender identity, or gender expression. Specifically, the University of Missouri System upholds Title IX, which states in part that “[n]o person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity.” Sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, stalking on the basis of sex and dating/intimate partner violence are forms of sex discrimination.

Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as:

1) Unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual activity by a person or persons in a position of power or authority to another person, or
2) Other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature by a person to another person, when:

a) Submission to or rejection of such conduct is used explicitly or implicitly as a condition for academic or employment decisions; or
b) Such conduct creates a hostile environment by being sufficiently severe or pervasive and objectively offensive that it interferes with, limits or denies the ability of an individual to participate in or benefit from educational programs or activities or employment access, benefits or opportunities.

Sexual Misconduct. Sexual misconduct is: 1) nonconsensual sexual intercourse; 2) nonconsensual sexual contact involving the sexual touching of the genitals, breast or anus of another person or the nonconsensual sexual touching of another with one’s own genitals whether directly or through the clothing; 3) exposing one’s genitals to another under circumstances in which he or she should reasonably know that his or her conduct is likely to cause affront or alarm; or 4) sexual exploitation.

Stalking on the Basis of Sex. Stalking on the basis of sex is following or engaging in a course of conduct on the basis of sex with no legitimate purpose that puts another person reasonably in fear for his or her safety or would cause a reasonable person under the circumstances to be frightened, intimidated or emotionally distressed.

Dating/Intimate Partner Violence. Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the recipient of the violent behavior.

Sexual Exploitation. Sexual exploitation occurs when one person takes nonconsensual or abusive sexual advantage of another person for his/her own advantage or benefit or for the advantage or benefit of anyone other than the person being exploited and which behavior does not constitute any other form of sexual misconduct. Examples of sexual exploitation include, but are not limited to, the following activities done without the consent of all participants:

Retaliation. Retaliation is any adverse action taken against a person because of that person’s participation in protected activity. The University strictly prohibits retaliation against any person for making a report required by Section 600.020 of the Collected Rules and Regulations, for making any good faith report to a Title IX Coordinator or for filing, testifying, assisting, or participating in any investigation or proceeding involving allegations of sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct.

False Reporting. False reporting is making an intentional false report or accusation as opposed to a report or accusation, which, even if erroneous, is made in good faith.

Threatening or Intimidating Behaviors, defined as written or verbal conduct that causes a reasonable expectation of injury to the health or safety of any person or damage to any property or implied threats or acts that cause a reasonable fear of harm in another.

Participating in attempted or actual taking of, damage to, or possession without permission of property of the University or of a member of the University community or of a campus visitor.

Unauthorized possession, duplication or use of keys to any University facilities or unauthorized entry to or use of University facilities.

Violation of University policies, rules or regulations or of campus regulations including, but not limited to, those governing residence in University-provided housing, or the use of University facilities, or the time, place and manner of public expression.

Manufacture, use, possession, sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages or any controlled substance without proper prescription or required license or as expressly permitted by law or University regulations, including operating a vehicle on University property, or on streets or roadways adjacent to and abutting a campus, under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance as prohibited by law of the state of Missouri.

Disruptive conduct. Conduct that creates a substantial disruption of University operations including obstruction of teaching, research, administration, other University activities, and/or other authorized non-University activities that occur on campus.

Failure to comply with directions of University officials acting in the performance of their duties.

The illegal or unauthorized possession or use of firearms, explosives, other weapons, or hazardous chemicals.

Hazing, defined as an act that endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student, or an act that is likely to cause physical or psychological harm to any person within the University community, or that destroys or removes public or private property, for the purpose of initiation, admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in a group or organization. Participation or cooperation by the person(s) being hazed does not excuse the violation. Failing to intervene to prevent (and/or) failing to discourage (and/or) failing to report those acts may also violate this policy.

Misuse of computing resources in accordance with University policy, including but not limited to:

Actual or attempted theft or other abuse.

Unauthorized entry into a file to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose.

Unauthorized transfer of a file.

Unauthorized use of another individual's identification and password.

Use of computing facilities to interfere with the work of another student, faculty member, or University official.

Use of computing facilities to interfere with normal operation of the University computing system.

Knowingly causing a computer virus to become installed in a computer system or file.